Tenable pricing depends on the security solution, license type, and number of assets or users you need. Nessus Professional starts at $4,790 per year, while Nessus Expert costs $6,790 per year.
Compare Tenable plans, products, pricing, and features below to find the option that best fits your security requirements.
Latest Tenable Pricing Plans (Sep 2026)
Tenable offers pricing options for individuals, businesses, and enterprises, from the free Nessus Essentials plan to advanced exposure management platforms.
The table below compares the latest Tenable pricing, licensing models, and starting costs for its most popular products and services.
| Tenable Product | Starting Price | Pricing Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nessus Essentials | Free | Limited-host evaluation | Students, labs, and small-scale testing |
| Nessus Professional | US$4,790/year | Fixed 1-year license, single user | Independent consultants and small security teams |
| Nessus Expert | US$6,790/year | Fixed 1-year license, single user | Consultants needing web app and external attack surface scanning |
| Tenable Vulnerability Management | US$3,700/year | Subscription based on assets | Mid-size organizations needing cloud-based vulnerability management |
| Tenable Web App Scanning | US$5,250/year | Subscription priced per FQDN | Teams securing and scanning web applications |
| Tenable One (Foundation) | Custom quote | Annual or multi-year, capacity-based | Organizations starting a unified exposure management program |
| Tenable One (Advanced) | Custom quote | Annual or multi-year, capacity-based | Organizations needing broader domain coverage |
| Tenable.sc | Custom quote | Annual or multi-year, on-premises | Government and regulated industries needing on-site control |
1. Tenable Nessus Pricing
Nessus is the only Tenable product with publicly available pricing, making it the easiest option to compare before purchasing.
Nessus Essentials
Nessus Essentials is Tenable’s free edition for individuals, students, and anyone learning vulnerability assessment. It includes the core Nessus scanning engine and regular plugin updates at no cost.
The free edition has usage limits and excludes advanced features such as compliance auditing, live results, and priority support. If you need additional capabilities or higher scanning limits, you can upgrade to Nessus Professional or Nessus Expert.
Nessus Essentials Plus
Nessus Essentials Plus is an entry-level paid plan that supports up to 20 IPs and includes real-time plugin updates, PDF and HTML reports, and extended data retention. Pricing is available during checkout rather than on Tenable’s pricing page.
Verified students and educators can access this plan at no cost through the Tenable Nessus for Education program.
Nessus Professional – $4,790/year
Nessus Professional is designed for security professionals, consultants, and IT teams that need unlimited vulnerability scanning.
It includes the full Nessus plugin library, credentialed scanning, compliance audit templates, unlimited scans, and standard support.
It doesn’t include centralized management, cloud-based dashboards, agents, or remediation workflows. Multi-year licenses are also available, with 2-year and 3-year subscriptions offering lower overall costs than renewing annually.
Nessus Expert – $6,790/year
Nessus Expert includes everything in Nessus Professional plus Web Application Scanning, External Attack Surface Management, and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) scanning.
It’s best suited for organizations that need application and external exposure scanning in addition to traditional vulnerability assessments.
A 7-day free trial is available for eligible users who want to evaluate the additional features before upgrading.
2. Tenable Vulnerability Management Pricing
Tenable Vulnerability Management (TVM) uses a per-asset subscription model instead of the fixed per-scanner pricing offered with Nessus.
Starting Price
TVM pricing starts at approximately $3,700/year for 100 assets. Organizations with larger environments typically receive custom pricing based on the number of assets and deployment requirements.
Multi-Year Pricing
Multi-year subscriptions reduce the overall cost compared to annual renewals. Reported pricing for 100 assets starts at approximately:
- 2-Year Plan: $6,825
- 3-Year Plan: $9,975
Requesting a custom quote is the best way to get accurate pricing based on your organization’s size and security requirements.
| Subscription | Total Cost | Savings vs. Annual | Total Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | $3,700 | – | – |
| 2 Years | $6,825 | 7.8% | $575 |
| 3 Years | $9,975 | 10.1% | $1,125 |
A 3-year subscription offers the best overall value, reducing the total cost compared to renewing annually.
Per-Asset Pricing
Tenable Vulnerability Management pricing increases with the number of assets. Typical pricing includes:
| Deployment Size | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| 100–250 Assets | $3,700–$10,000 |
| 500–2,000 Assets | $25,000–$150,000 |
| 10,000+ Assets | Custom Quote |
What Counts As An Asset?
An asset is any device or workload monitored by Tenable, including servers, workstations, virtual machines, cloud workloads, containers, and other supported systems.
Since pricing depends on your asset count, estimate your environment carefully before requesting a quote.
3. Tenable Security Center Pricing
Tenable Security Center is an on-premises vulnerability management solution with custom pricing based on deployment size and licensing requirements.
Pricing starts at approximately $12,000 for smaller deployments, while larger organizations receive custom quotes. Contact Tenable Sales for current pricing.
4. Tenable One Pricing
Tenable One is Tenable’s enterprise exposure management platform, bringing vulnerability management, cloud security, identity exposure, web application scanning, OT security, and attack path analysis into one solution.
Pricing is quote-based and varies according to factors such as asset count, licensed modules, and deployment size. Enterprise plans may start at around $50,000 per year, depending on the configuration.
Tenable One is a good fit for organizations that want to manage security risks across multiple environments from a single platform.
5. Other Tenable Pricing & Products
The products below use custom pricing based on your environment, deployment size, or number of protected assets.
Tenable Cloud Security Pricing
Tenable Cloud Security pricing is based on the number of cloud resources you protect, including virtual machines, containers, serverless functions, databases, and data stores.
Custom pricing is available through the Tenable sales team.
Tenable OT Security Pricing
Tenable OT Security pricing is based on the number of operational technology (OT) assets in your environment.
Custom quotes are available, with professional services starting at about $12,244 for a 30-day assessment and about $20,375 for remote implementation.
Tenable Identity Exposure Pricing
Tenable Identity Exposure pricing is based on the number of Active Directory identities you manage.
Custom pricing is available as a standalone product or as part of the Tenable One platform.
What Affects Tenable Pricing?
Understanding what makes Tenable costs go up or down helps you budget accurately and negotiate more effectively.
1. Asset Count and Scope
Most Tenable products use asset-based pricing. Volume discounts commonly apply at thresholds of 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 assets – hitting a volume tier can significantly reduce per-asset costs.
2. Product Tier
Bundled platforms like Tenable One cost significantly more than single products. Only purchase products you will actively use; adding Tenable One features you don’t need is the fastest way to overpay.
3. Deployment Model
On-premises Security Center deployments typically have a higher total cost of ownership when you factor in hardware, implementation professional services, and annual maintenance fees.
4. Contract Duration
Multi-year agreements (2–3 years) unlock meaningful volume discounts. Tenable’s sales team has more flexibility on larger, longer deals – this is the most reliable source of enterprise discount leverage.
5. Add-On Modules
Web App Scanning, Cloud Security, Identity Exposure, and Lumin are typically sold separately. Buyers who negotiate bundled pricing upfront consistently achieve lower per-module costs than those who add capabilities incrementally.
6. Annual Price Increases
Tenable raises Nessus prices every year, effective March 1st. The 2026 increase took effect on March 2, 2026.
Purchasing or renewing before the annual deadline, or locking in multi-year pricing, is the most effective way to manage this predictable cost factor.
Hidden Costs To Watch
- Annual Maintenance: Perpetual Security Center licenses may include annual maintenance fees of 18%–22% of the license cost.
- Professional Services: Enterprise deployments may require paid implementation services, with costs varying based on the deployment and project scope.
- Overage Fees: Exceeding your contracted asset limit may result in additional charges. Confirm the pricing for extra assets before signing a contract.
- Training: Nessus Fundamentals training costs $275 as an optional add-on. Advanced training and certifications may cost extra.
- Storage and Data Retention: Cloud-based platforms may charge additional fees when you need storage or data retention beyond the standard limits.
How Can You Save On Tenable Pricing?
You can lower your Tenable pricing by comparing available discounts, choosing the right license term, and asking about custom pricing for larger deployments.
Use a Tenable Coupon Code
Check for an active Tenable coupon code before purchasing. Available promotions may offer discounts on eligible Nessus products and other Tenable solutions.
Choose Multi-Year Licensing
If you need Nessus for several years, compare 2- or 3-year licenses with annual pricing. Multi-year options can lower the effective yearly cost.
Check Seasonal Promotions
Check seasonal Tenable promotions during periods such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These limited-time offers may include discounts on selected products or subscriptions.
Negotiate Enterprise Pricing
Businesses with larger deployments can request a custom quote from Tenable Sales. Pricing may depend on asset volume, products, modules, and deployment requirements.
Check Education and Nonprofit Discounts
Educational institutions and nonprofits may qualify for special pricing on selected Tenable products. Contact Tenable Sales to confirm eligibility and available discounts.
Conclusion: Which Tenable Plan Is Right for You?
Choose the Tenable plan that matches your environment and security requirements.
Nessus Essentials is ideal for beginners; Nessus Professional suits security professionals and small teams; Tenable Vulnerability Management is designed for larger organizations.
Tenable One is the best choice for enterprises managing IT, cloud, identity, web applications, and OT security from a single platform.
Compare the plans, evaluate your requirements, and choose the option that delivers the features you need without paying for tools you won’t use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tenable Raise Prices Every Year?
Yes. Tenable periodically updates its pricing, particularly for Nessus Professional and Nessus Expert. If you’re planning a long-term subscription, purchasing a multi-year license can help lock in current pricing before future price changes.
Is There A Free Version Of Tenable?
Yes, Nessus Essentials is free and covers up to 5 IPs on a 30-day evaluation basis. Nessus Essentials Plus (up to 20 IPs, annual) is offered free to verified students and educators through the Nessus for Education program. All other Tenable products require a paid subscription.
Does Tenable Charge Per IP Or Per Asset?
It depends on the product. Nessus Professional and Nessus Expert use per-scanner licensing with unlimited IP scanning. Tenable Vulnerability Management is priced per asset, while Tenable Security Center uses per-IP pricing. Enterprise products such as Tenable One, Cloud Security, and OT Security are typically priced through custom quotes based on your environment.
